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Taxpayers may be on hook for $4B in improvements for Olympics

High hopes that Boston's Olympic dreams could fix the MBTA nightmare may suddenly be fading.

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Updated: 5:58 AM EST Feb 24, 2015

Taxpayers may be on hook for $4B in improvements for Olympics

High hopes that Boston's Olympic dreams could fix the MBTA nightmare may suddenly be fading.

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Updated: 5:58 AM EST Feb 24, 2015

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WEBVTT NEXT WEEK. RANDY, EMILY? 5:33. NEW THIS MORNING, HIGH HOPES THAT BOSTON'S OLYMPIC DREAMS COULD. THE EYE'S TODD KAZAKIEWICH IS LIVE IN THE CITY WITH THE FALLOUT. TODD? THERE ARE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE "T" COULD GET FROM THE OLYMPIC. ONE OF THEM IS ADDITIONAL PLATFORMS HERE AT SOUTH STATION. NOW WE'RE LEARNING THAT THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR TAX PAYERS. WHEN BOSTON'S OLYMPIC BID WAS ANNOUNCED ORGANIZERS INCLUDED IN THEIR PITCH A PROMISE THAT TRANSPORTATION IN INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES INCLUDING A BILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION OF SOUTH STATION, NEW DIESEL TRAINS AND AN UPGRADE TO THE J.F.K. U-MASS STATION. ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE "T" MIGHT SEEM TO BE A BIG SELLING ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE LITANY OF UNPRECEDENTED PROBLEMS THE AGING SYSTEM HAS SUFFERED THIS WINTER. IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT FUNTDING FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS WAS ALREADY ALLOCATED. NOW WE'RE LEARNING THAT NOT ALL PROJECTS ARE FULLY FUNDED AND OTHERS ARE NOT PART OF A DOLLARS 13 BILLION BOND BILL SIGNED LAST YEAR BY GOVERNOR PATRICK. THE GLOBE IS REPORTING THE TAX PAYERS WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR ANOTHER $4 BILLION TO MAKE ALL OF THE SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS. SOME OF WHICH ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HOST A 2024 GAMES BUT BO BE ENHANCEMENTS AND POSSIBLY BOOST BOSTON'S CHANCES OF BEING AWARDED THE GAMES. IT'S NOT JUST THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE THAT MUST BE CONVINCED THAT BOSTON IS THE BEST OPTION. THE PUBLIC IS ALSO NOW GETTING A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN. THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING LAST NIGHT AND ONE TONIGHT AS WELL IN SOUTH BOSTON. REPORTING LIVE FROM SOUTH

Taxpayers may be on hook for $4B in improvements for Olympics

High hopes that Boston's Olympic dreams could fix the MBTA nightmare may suddenly be fading.